Making a Clay Ball into a Clay Bowl

Hand-Building with Clay

A bowl can be made out of a clay ball.

This technique can be used by children, teens or adults. The ball into a bowl hand-building technique can also be used with self-hardening clay or with clay that will be fired in a kiln. Kids can also do this with Play-doh.

Materials Needed

Making a clay ball into a clay bowl does not require a lot of materials.

wire tool (optional)
Scrap cloth or newspaper
Clay

Making a Clay Bowl

Prepare the work surface with a scrap piece of cloth or newspaper.

Using a wire tool is the easiest way to cut a piece of clay off of a large or hard block. Use a butter knife if you don't have wire tool.

The most basic way to make a small bowl or cup by hand-building is to start with a ball of clay. Self-hardening clay needs to worked until it is pliable. The size of the final bowl will be determined by the size of the ball you create. Start small, so you can get the feel of the clay, and how it moves in your hands.

Once you have made a ball, use your thumb and press about half-way down into the ball. Next, put your other thumb in the hole in the ball. Your fingers should be resting on the outside of the ball, with your thumbs on the inside. Slowly begin pinching and working the ball with your thumb and fingers. Pinch the clay evenly, stretching it out. The center hole becomes wider, and the outside clay becomes thinner.

Continue working in this manner until you have a cup or bowl shape that you like. If you are going for more of a cup shape, retain the vertical integrity of the shape.

Once you have the cup or bowl shape you like. Make the top of the pottery item even. Either flatten the top by turning it upside down, or round it out with our hands. You could alsoscallop the top as you would with a pie crust.

The bottom may also be flattened by gently pressing down from the inside of the bowl with it right side up.

Smooth any parts of the bowl that appear rough. It should still be soft and pliable enough to do this without adding water. If you must wet your hands slightly to work the bowl, you can.

Also check the bowl to see if the clay is evenly dispersed. Make small adjustments to the bowl project as needed.